Page 45 of The Missing Couple

“It’s possible and we have nothing but a few minutes’ time to lose by checking.”

Charly could hardly breathe as he retraced the route to the Cha-La-Kee Road. Since the trailer and Hillard’s driveway weren’t close to the road, Billie would drive slowly past the turnoff while Charly peered down the narrow road. She wasn’t sure what kind of vehicle Finn drove but if she saw anything besides the rusty old blue truck, Billie was turning around and pulling into that driveway.

She held her breath as they drove past.

A small red truck was parked right next to the blue one.

“Someone is there,” Charly blurted. She turned to Billie as he slowed to make a turn in the middle of the road. “There’s a red truck parked next to Perry’s.”

“Let’s see who this visitor is and if it’s who we think it is, then we’ll know we’re on to something.”

They needed a break. They really, really did.

And this could be it!

Chapter Thirteen

Hillard Residence

Cha-La-Kee Road, 11:00 a.m.

Billie turned onto the driveway of Perry Hillard’s property. “Stay low,” he said to Charly. “Just in case.”

She wasn’t sure what he expected might happen but clearly he was concerned. Shootouts and all manner of attacks whizzed through her head. “All right.” She eased down a little in the seat but not so far that she couldn’t see.

Perry sauntered out of the house, his two dogs running past him. He set his hands on his hips and stared at the SUV they were in. At least he’d put on a T-shirt and they were no longer forced to see his countable ribs. The man needed to eat.

Before Charly could ask what next, Billie opened his door and got out.

Her heart thumped against her sternum.

The dogs rocketed toward him.

“Easy now,” he said softly.

Charly shoved her door open in hopes of distracting them.

It worked. The dogs rushed to her side of the SUV. Maybe not a great move.

Her heart rocketed into her throat as she held stone still.

Perry called out a command that sounded indistinguishable to Charly, but to her relief the dogs alerted and then without hesitation bounded toward him.

Since Billie was already at the front of the SUV, likely headed in her direction, she joined him there.

“Not a good move,” he said in an aside to her.

“Yeah, well, it worked, didn’t it?” she whispered in his direction.

“Did you forget something?” Perry asked as he took his time strolling in their direction as if he didn’t want them to get too close to his trailer.

Still no sign of the other vehicle’s driver. She had no idea if it belonged to Finn.

“We were looking for Finn,” Charly spoke up.

“We were told he was here,” Billie added as he hitched his head toward the red truck. “That’s his truck, isn’t it?”

Perry stared at Charly for a long moment, then he gave Billie the same. “Finn,” he shouted over his shoulder.